Foundation and Soil Engineering (5 cr)

Objective

On completion of the course the student can:
• identify the most common types of soil and related geotechnical properties
• interpret results from common soil examinations
• choose the appropriate method of building foundations in different circumstances, knows different methods of building foundations
• produce a simple foundation construction plan and understand the role of the foundation construction document
• understand the bearing capacity of different soil types
• understand pressure load
• explain simple foundation construction on rock, directly on ground and on piles, and perform calculations related to these
• choose the appropriate machinery and equipment for different phases of foundation construction work
• explain the excavations required for construction
• explain the principles of drainage and plan drainage
• explain the principles of frost protection and plan frost protection
• explain the substructures of a building
• explain subgrade reinforcement methods.

Content

• Soil types and geotechnical properties
• Foundation soil examination methods
• Soil properties in terms of load bearing capacity
• Foundation methods and structures
• Foundation methods on rock and related calculations
• Foundation methods for building directly against the ground and related calculations
• Foundation methods on piles and related calculations
• Difficulty category A substructures and most common risks in foundation construction
• Basics of quality assurance
• Introduction to the publications MaaRYL, TaloRYL, National Building Code
• Different types of substructures for buildings
• Planning of excavations works and principles of carrying out of excavation works
• Drainage of substructures and the surroundings
• Frost protection
• Subgrade reinforcement methods
• Foundation repair methods

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student can
• explain typical foundation types and foundation construction methods for different types of soil
• understand the load bearing capacity of soil in different circumstances
• explain the methods and phases of earth works as well as the machinery and equipment used for every task
• describe principles of planning and supervising earth works and under guidance produce an earth works plan
• explain the contents of the occupational safety plan for earth works

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student can
• choose the appropriate method of building foundations for each circumstance
• perform calculations related to a simple foundation when the foundation is built on rock, directly on the ground, or on piles
• explain the methods and phases of earth works as well as the machinery and equipment used for every task
• apply principles of planning and supervising earth works and under guidance produce an earth works plan
• produce an occupational health and safety plan for earth works.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student can
- choose the appropriate method of building foundations for each circumstance without difficulty
- perform calculations for foundation structures based on the load bearing capacity of the ground or rock
- perform calculations related to a simple foundation on piles
- calculate soil pressure loads
- explain the methods and phases of earth works as well as the machinery and equipment used for every task
- apply principles of planning and supervision of earth works and under guidance produce an earth works plan
- produce an occupational health and safety plan for earth works

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student can
• exp lain typical foundation types and foundation construction methods for different types of soil
• understand the load bearing capacity of soil in different circumstances
• explain the methods and phases of earth works as well as the machinery and equipment used for every task
• describe principles of planning and supervising earth works and under guidance produce an earth works plan
• explain the contents of the occupational health and safety plan for earth works.

Qualifications

None